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Tinubu Charges Editors To Help Stimulate Economy For FDI
President Bola Tinubu has declared open the 19th All Nigeria Editors Conference holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris Malagi, charged Editors to engage in positive publicity of the country so as to attract foreign investment.
Tinubu congratulated the Nigeria Guild of Editors for choosing a relevant theme, “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media”, for the conference.
“I have signed five executive orders so far with a view to stimulating the economy for growth and foreign investment”, Tinubu added.
On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris Malagi, pledged to restore the trust and confidence of the public on information managers in the country.
He also restated his earlier promise on assumption of office, to say only what is true and factual, stressing that the era of propaganda was over.
In his remark as chief host, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, cautioned Editors to be careful when trying to break the news so as not to ‘break the fabric of the society,’ and urged journalists to engender good governance in their news reportage to advance Nigeria’s democracy.
“In trying to break the news, don’t break the fabrics of the society. We need the society,” Eno said.
The governor said: “I want to plead that you use engender a new template of reportage, one that is development-oriented, where our leaders are called to account without being overly obtrusive.
“You need the nation first in order to freely practise your profession.”
He said that his administration was open to constructive criticisms and committed to driving a narrative of governance focused on making the state residents to reap dividends of democracy and build trust in government.
Eno praised the media for support for his administration.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for efforts so far in governance, and prayed God to guide him.
“May God bless our dear nation, Nigeria, and continue to give in our president and commander-in-chief more wisdom to lead our nation.
“In the process, there will be fulfilment of the dreams of our founding fathers to have a powerful, united and prosperous nation,” he said.
Eno stated that Ibom Air has started its flight to Ghana and other west coast countries.
“Soon, we shall take a delivery of a brand new Aircraft to boost our fleet” Akwa Ibom Governor added.
“We came to the office fully prepared and the state government had started building model schools equipped with accommodation for teachers to enhance learning and education.”
Eno urged Editors to find time to attend the State’s Cultural Festival from December 1, 2023 to January, 2024.
In his goodwill message, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, called on the Federal Government to urgently evolve measures to regulate social media to tackle misinformation and disinformation.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, Otu said that social media had been misused to a large extent.
The governor described mass media as indispensable for societal development.
“The media should indulge more in critical analysis of issues instead of merely praising policymakers.
“We can see that the media holds a critical place in our national development; the media should be reliable and trustworthy,” he said.
The governor further urged the mass media to propagate ideas that would stimulate economic recovery.
“The economy of every nation has direct bearing on the well-being of the citizenry; so, a prosperous economy will definitely breed a prosperous citizenry,” he said.
Otu expressed worry at under investment in agriculture and small and medium scale enterprises.
“With adequate investment in agriculture, the level of poverty in the country will reduce.
“We must be together in the bid to develop our nation. With the right policies, we will get it right,” he said.
In his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba, urged NGE members to do more to promote citizens’ access to information.
Anaba said that access to information would enhance participatory democracy and encourage good governance.
“Without access to information, this form of governance is not possible.
“Information creates the opportunity to discuss a range of available options and to take part in meaningful public policy discussions and informed political debates.
“Information allows the public to hold a government accountable by creating a public awareness of the government’s conduct.
“It is for this reason that the theme of this year’s annual conference is: “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media,” he said.
Anaba said that about 300 media executives and senior editors gathered for the conference.
He said that the conference would also examine Nigerian media sustainability, the existential threat of the Big Tech and the way forward.
The NGE president urged editors and other media professionals to continue to ensure balanced, accurate, factual and timely news reporting, which he described as the hallmark of journalism.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Publisher of the Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Sam Amuka, said that journalists were the conscience of the society, and warned them against publishing fake news.
He said, “You must always publish the truth.”
In his presentation, the immediate past Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muda Yusuf, called on the mass media to stimulate discussions that would grow Nigeria’s economy.
Yusuf said that Nigeria was facing declining reserves, lack of investor confidence and currency volatility, among other challenges.
“Well thought-out reform measures are crucial at this point, we cannot wish this away,” he said.
He said that Nigerian media had a crucial role to play in tackling the challenges.
“Nigeria is in dire need of economic reforms going by the level of poverty in the country.
“Statistics shows that, as at 2022, 60 per cent of Nigerians were already facing multi-dimensional poverty,” he said.
According him, it is important for the media to be proactive in holding governments to account.
“It is good to indulge in economic reforms, the most important thing is the well-being of the people,” he said.
Yusuf said that the media had a role to play in ensuring that reforms would be effectively implemented in the interest of the citizenry.
A renowned journalist, editor and media manager, Azu Ishiekwene; and Finance Minister, Wale Edun; also presented papers during the conference.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by other partners.
The conference will last for three days.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
News
Fubara, Canadian Envoy Synergise On Health Sector Growth, Investment Relations
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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has further canvassed the strengthening of the relationship between the State and the Canadian Government in order to attract more investments, promote economic growth while delivering quality healthcare services in the State.
These were part of the focus of the discussion that took place between Governor Fubara and the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr James Christoff, when they met behind closed doors at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Mr Christoff expressed satisfaction with the issues discussed and mutually endorsed, and expressed willingness to ensure their actualisation, separately and collectively to their benefit.
Particularly, Mr Christoff said: “First of all, let me say what an honour and pleasure it is for me to be here in Rivers State. I had a couple of very good meetings here over the last day, including with His Excellency, the Governor.
“We talked about areas where we know there are some rooms for us to, I think, further entrench our relationship. One of the things I’ll be doing while I’m here in Rivers State is to visit the Medical Oxygen facility that Canada provided significant support to, overseen by UNICEF.
“And, just knowing that health is a priority for His Excellency, I want to see for myself the Medical Oxygen Plant at Eleme General Hospital, to better understand how that’s making a tremendous difference here in the State.”
Mr Christoff also said that the discussion extended to the abundant natural resources in Rivers State, which are evidence of how blessed it is as a State much like Canada.
The envoy pointed to how expressively he divulged the determination of his country to explore areas “where we can always look to take a very good situation and raise the bar in terms of how we benefit.
“In our case, as Canada, from natural resources and what it brings to a community. And so, we shared some insights on that particular issue, and of course, there are the people-to-people ties that are growing between Nigeria and Canada that are very important.
“And we look for ways to, maybe, tap into the many Nigerians who have a foot in both countries, to the benefit of both countries. So, it was a very good discussion. I’m very happy to be here.”
Mr Christoff further said: “Well, I would say that in terms of business development, that’s a two-way street. Of course, it’s part of our job, part of my job as Canada’s High Commissioner to Nigeria to try and unpack the opportunities that reside here for our companies, and I think we’re making great strides in that.
“And so, wherever I go, when I visit, pay visits on governors across the great country of Nigeria, I always look to find the areas where we might bring our companies and the host government to collaborate.
“As I mentioned, the natural resource sector is one such area, and I look forward to further discussions with state governments, and how we might benefit collectively,” he added.
He noted the peaceful and hospitable ambience in the State, stressing that the Canadian government and companies were satisfied with the opportunities that exist in the State, and were tapping into existing policies to further boost mutual collaborations.
News
Bill Gates Foundation Highlights Nigeria’s Potential To Transform Agriculture, Health
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has highlighted Nigeria’s potential to significantly increase its agricultural output, which the foundation described as a transformative opportunity for the country.
Mr Bill Gates, Philanthropist and co-chair of the Foundation, said this in Abuja, yesterday, at the 2024 NutriVision, a Pan African dialogue to discuss innovative solutions to combating malnutrition in Africa.
Gates said that with the right investments in agricultural productivity and healthcare, Nigeria could achieve food security and also become a net food exporter, contributing to economic growth and improved public health.
He pointed out the immense potential for Nigeria to more than double its food output, which would be a game-changer for the nation.
He noted that such a shift would alleviate the need to use scarce foreign currency reserves to import food, particularly given the current exchange rate challenges.
“There is the opportunity for Nigeria to more than double its food output, which would be pretty transformative because it would mean that you would be a net food exporter.
“Nigeria could bring in revenue by exporting food, boosting the economy and improving the livelihoods of those in rural and Northern areas,” he said.
The philanthropist emphasised the importance of embracing digital approach and utilising better seeds to spark what he termed “agricultural miracles.”
He explained that improving agricultural productivity was crucial for addressing equity, empowering women, and tackling nutrition issues in Nigeria.
He called for a concerted effort to implement these solutions, which would not only enhance food security but also contribute to broader social and economic development.
Gates also discussed the crucial role of healthcare in Nigeria’s development, noting that the government must prioritise health as part of its broader strategy.
He highlighted the need for Nigeria to increase government funding for health and education, supported by improved tax collection.
“The actual tax collection in Nigeria is pretty low. As citizens develop confidence in well-run programmes, they will support increased funding for essential services, “he said.
He underscored the importance of efficient primary healthcare systems, where resources are allocated wisely, and services are delivered effectively.
“Our foundation’s involved with a lot of the exemplars that are showing the way in terms of making sure the money is spent well.
“We are running a very efficient primary health care system where the employees are doing great work, the centres are where they should be, you do not have underloaded centres or overloaded centres,” he said.
He expressed optimism that these efforts would enhance the credibility of health programmes, encouraging citizens to prioritise and advocate for better funding of primary healthcare.
He stressed the potential for Nigeria to learn from best practices around the world and adapt them to local contexts, thereby driving progress in both agriculture and healthcare.
He painted a hopeful picture of a future where Nigeria could feed itself and also nourish the world by making the right choices and placing people at the centre of these efforts.
The Tide source reports that the BMGF advocates that solutions to Africa’s greatest challenges can come from within Africa.
The foundation, thus, supports African partners whose bold ideas and creative approaches have the potential to save lives, improve health and help families across the continent.
Since the foundation’s inception in 2000, it has supported partnerships with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities in 49 countries.
It contributes funding and scientific expertise in support of their agenda for change.
These partnerships have driven the success of numerous health, agriculture, equality, and anti-poverty initiatives.
The foundation has committed more than seven billion dollars through 2026, to support African countries and institutions working to develop and implement innovative approaches to confront hunger, disease, gender inequality, and poverty.
It works with African governments, the private sector, non-profit organisations and civil society.
The efforts are geared towards improving health outcomes, boosting agricultural productivity, expanding access to digital financial services, and empowering women and other marginalised populations with greater economic opportunities.
News
No Directive Was Issued To NNPCL To Increase Petrol Price To N1,000, Says Lokpobiri
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The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that no directive was issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to increase petroleum prices to N1,000.
Lokpobiri, in a statement issued, yesterday, by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor, said he did not direct the NNPC Ltd. or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices.
“The Federal Government has been compelled to address the outright falsehood and malicious claims currently circulating on social media.
“We categorically condemn these claims as baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to incite public discontent.
“We challenge anyone in possession of any evidence-be it written documents, audio, or video recordings-that supports these fabrications to make it public.
“Such a claim is entirely devoid of truth and should be recognised as an intentional effort to mislead the public,” he said.
He explained that the NNPC Ltd. operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not, and will not interfere in NNPC Ltd.’s internal decisions, including pricing matters.
“Any suggestion otherwise is not only incorrect but also reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” he said.
He advised the public to dismiss these malicious rumors.
“Any claim to the contrary is nothing more than an ill- conceived attempt to sow discord and confusion.
“We urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely solely on information from verified and official channels,” he said.
The Tide source reports that as at Tuesday, the NNPC Ltd. Retail Stations adjusted their pump price, selling at N897 as against N617 per litre.
Independent marketers are selling between N930 to N1,000.
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